Ashish Shukla

Bio: Ashish Shukla is an academic researcher from Coventry University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Heat exchanger & TEC. The author has an hindex of 25, co-authored 97 publications receiving 2234 citations. Previous affiliations of Ashish Shukla include Indian Space Research Organisation & Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.

A review on biomass energy resources, potential, conversion and policy in India

Abstract: In this communication biomass energy resource, potential, energy conversion and policy for promotion implemented by Government of India are discussed. The total installed capacity for electricity generation in India is 2666.64 GW as on 31st March 2013. Renewable energy is contributed 10.5% of total generation out of which 12.83% power is being generated using biomass. India has surplus agricultural and forest area which comprises about 500 million metric tons of biomass availability per year. In India total biomass power generation capacity is 17,500 MW. At present power being generated is 2665 MW which include 1666 MW by cogeneration. The various category of biomass in India is also discussed in this paper. And the research reveals that India has large potential for bio mass feed stock from different sources. Government of India deployed different policies and executed that the strategies for biomass power generation. Such approaches have included the whole biomass energy sector which incorporated the bio gas, bio diesel etc. in the policies. Government of India has focused on the deployment and development biomass energy sector with strategic policy and program which is notable portion of this review paper.

A review on delignification of lignocellulosic biomass for enhancement of ethanol production potential

Abstract: In the recent past, significant research has been made by thermal, mechanical, chemical and microbial pretreatments in the process of delignification. Production of ethanol from the lignocellulosic material has been done in three major steps: (i) delignification; (ii) depolymerization and (iii) fermentation. Pretreatment has been one of the most expensive processing steps in cellulosic biomass to fermentable sugar conversion. Present review article presents recent advances in the field of delignification. Research article also comprehensively discusses the different pretreatment methods along with effect of delignification on ethanol production and the uses of lignin in different industries. It has been found out that; pretreatment methods have significant impact on production efficiency of ethanol from biomass. This further signifies that, the pretreatment results must be balanced against their impact on cost of the processing steps and the trade-off between operating costs, capital costs and biomass cost.

A review on the air-PCM-TES application for free cooling and heating in the buildings

Abstract: Thermal energy storage (TES) technologies incorporating phase change materials (PCM) are proving viable option for achieving energy efficiency economically in the buildings. This paper reviews the application of air-PCM-TES studies and technologies for the free cooling and heating of buildings. TES in general and air-PCM-TES in particular are discussed in this review. An extensive investigation on air-PCM-TES systems has been undertaken through passive and active methods and the advantages and disadvantages for each, are detailed. The thermal performances of these systems have been investigated through experimental and numerical approaches and listed in this paper. Passive methods e.g. use of PCMs in the building envelope present difficulty of exchanging a high rate of heat and therefore unsuitable for extreme climate. Therefore, active methods are adopted for extreme climates to meet the demand. Overall, when the right method is applied, air-PCM-TES systems have shown to be effectively providing free cooling and heating of the buildings through auxiliary sources.

Environmental sustainability of bioethanol production from rice straw in India: A review

Abstract: Rice is the main staple food in most of the Asian countries and rice crops generate a huge amount of rice straw as crop residue in the fields. Unsustainable use of rice straw and open burning of crop in the field not only produces threat to environment by producing large amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, but also make farmer׳s loose a very viable by-product. Rice straw can be used in bio-ethanol production and bring additional income and sustainable utilization. It will also provide clean energy solution to ever increasing energy demand in India. However, it becomes more important to study the sustainability of bio-ethanol production from rice straw and how it can make sense in today׳s Indian agricultural scenario. Although, the bioethanol obtained from rice straw is a carbon neutral in nature, but the concerns of environmental impacts have been raised for the whole process i.e. from rice cultivation, rice logistics, pretreatment techniques, bioethanol generation and transportation. The present review focuses on the environmental sustainability issues arising from use of rice straw for bioethanol production. The environmental impacts are assessed by studying the emission of greenhouse gases from each stage of life cycle. The paper presents an outlook on current status and future prospects of ethanol blending in the country.

Lignocellulosic biomass: a sustainable platform for the production of bio-based chemicals and polymers

Abstract: The demand for petroleum dependent chemicals and materials has been increasing despite the dwindling of their fossil resources. As the dead-end of petroleum based industry has started to appear, today's modern society has to implement alternative energy and valuable chemical resources immediately. Owing to the importance of lignocellulosic biomass being the most abundant and bio-renewable biomass on earth, this critical review provides insights into the potential of lignocellulosic biomass as an alternative platform to fossil resources. In this context, over 200 value-added compounds, which can be derived from lignocellulosic biomass by various treatment methods, are presented with their references. Lignocellulosic biomass based polymers and their commercial importance are also reported mainly in the frame of these compounds. This review article aims to draw the map of lignocellulosic biomass derived chemicals and their synthetic polymers, and to reveal the scope of this map in today's modern chemical and polymer industry.